Premier League predictions: Gameweek 5

Well, thank goodness for that. The international break is over after a week-and-a-half that felt like an eternity, with Premier League football gracing our television sets and laptop screens once more this weekend.

On paper, there are no jaw-dropping fixtures upon the English top-flight's return, but there is still an abundance of top clashes with the potential for some almighty upsets.

For many teams, this weekend serves as an opportunity to sparkle once more and propel themselves up the league table. For others, there will be a desperate scramble not to be crisis club of the week.

Here's how 90min thinks this weekend could play out.

Premier League predictions: Week 5

There will be no Friday fixture this gameweek for the first time this season as a result of the international break, meaning we will unfortunately have to sit and talk to our loved ones instead, anxiously twitching our fingers until Saturday afternoon.

Wolverhampton Wanderers get us underway at Molineux, looking to shake off three defeats from their opening four league matches under new boss Gary O'Neil. Liverpool are the visitors, not exactly the kind of team the Old Gold will relish facing given the Reds' impressive run of results at the beginning of the new campaign.

There are five 3pm kick-offs this Saturday, one of which being Aston Villa's clash with Crystal Palace. Unai Emery's side have either been unequivocally brilliant or darn right terrible this season, with Villa fans hopeful that the former is the case come the Eagles' visit. However, Palace have made a quietly solid start to the season and could pose the Villans some problems.

Luton Town are still searching for their first points of the season as they take a relatively short trip to Fulham on Saturday. The Hatters have played a game fewer than most other teams but have looked out of their depth so far, with a difficult trip to Craven Cottage up next.

Arguably the standout fixture of the weekend, all eyes will be on Manchester United for the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion. The Seagulls won their last trip to Old Trafford in Erik ten Hag's first competitive game in charge and will fancy their chances of replicating that result. The Red Devils are having problems on and off the pitch at the moment but a victory on Saturday would be the perfect tonic.

With Ange-ball in full swing in north London, Tottenham Hotspur supporters will be relishing the visit of newly-promoted Sheffield United. The Blades managed their first point against Everton before the break, but free-scoring Spurs will likely prove too tough for them.

Premier League champions Manchester City also take on West Ham United on Saturday afternoon in a trip that seems a lot more difficult now than it would have a couple of weeks ago. The Hammers have won three on the bounce in style, but the visit of Pep Guardiola's side will be a barometer of how far they have come in recent games.

Newcastle United will be desperate to put three successive league defeats behind them when they welcome Brentford to Tyneside in the late kick-off. The Magpies may have had a difficult fixture list to start the campaign, but their performances have been well below their own lofty standards. Thomas Frank's side will be hoping to pour more misery on Eddie Howe before Newcastle's midweek Champions League clash with AC Milan.

Sunday sees just two matches taking place, the first being Chelsea's trip to Bournemouth. The Cherries have won three of their last seven clashes with the Blues and it wouldn't be surprising if they made that four in eight given Chelsea's woeful start to the campaign.

Surprisingly, Arsenal have not won away at Everton since 2017, something they will need to change this Sunday to keep up with Man City at the top of the table. The Toffees are in crisis following a disastrous start to the season, so Mikel Arteta and his players need to take full advantage of the nerves around Goodsion Park.

There may be no Friday night game but there is one on Monday evening when Nottingham Forest host Burnley. Vincent Kompany's newly-promoted side are still searching for a point having conceded 11 goals in their first three matches, while Forest will be flying high after their superb 1-0 away win against Chelsea before the international break.

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